A witness to Walpin-gate

The White House excuse for firing an IG falls flat

The belated White House explanation for firing the AmeriCorps inspector general doesn't ring true.

The White House claims Inspector General Gerald Walpin was effectively away without leave from his Washington office and that he was so "disoriented" and "confused" at a May 20 meeting that it made officials "question his capacity to serve." An exclusive witness told The Washington Times both charges are baseless.

By all accounts, the May 20 meeting was contentious. It was then that Mr. Walpin chastised the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service for failing to exercise enough oversight over AmeriCorps grants.

In response the board was hostile and rude. The board repeatedly interrupted Mr. Walpin and peppered him with questions on multiple issues. He fully confirmed Mr. Walpin's account that the board excused Mr. Walpin for 15 minutes and that when Mr. Walpin returned to find his notepapers out of order, the board refused to give him time to get them straight... [snip]

The fact remains that an inspector general does not serve at the president's pleasure and can be removed only for a specified just cause.

No legitimate cause has been given for the firing of AmeriCorps Inspector General Gerald Walpin.

[An insight by what's meant by the phrase "Chicago politics" - Recommended > ]

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